The George Washington University has decided to discontinue the school’s “Colonials” moniker, citing recent “division among the community.”
The nickname, which has been used by the university since 1926, will no longer be the name of the school’s sports teams. The school’s Colonial mascot will be discontinued as well.
According to the official statement released by the University:
“The board recognizes the significance of changing the university’s moniker, and we made this decision only after a thoughtful and deliberate process that followed the renaming framework and special committee recommendation that considered the varying perspectives of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and athletics community,” said Board Chair Grace Speights, J.D. ’82. “A moniker must unify our community, draw people together, and serve as a source of pride. We look forward to the next steps in an inclusive process to identify a moniker that fulfills this aspiration.”
A moniker should be unifying, Board Chair Speights remarks—and on the surface, it may seem to some like a simple change in branding. What’s the big deal about a university dropping the moniker “colonial?” The significance is twofold:
First, the university’s actions are part of a broader social movement in this country designed to inflict shame on Americans for the founding of this country. It is in line with rhetoric similar to the 1619 project and critical race theory. This sentiment teaches students that America is “rooted in racism” and was “founded on stolen land.” Of course, this narrative ignores the broader context of history.
Second, the cancellation of the moniker is in line with the left’s enthusiasm for cancel-culture—because the left has designated itself as the arbiter of free speech.
But some students at GW are pushing back and it’s hilarious.
Danny De Urbina, President of The George Washington University TPUSA student chapter, explains how students are reacting to the University’s decision. To both protest the change and point out its foolishness, students have begun placing “missing person” posters for the mascot all across campus:
We’ve seen similar cancellations in recent months. You may remember when Land-o-lakes removed a native American woman from butter products, or when the Aunt Jemima syrup changed its name and logo. Removing the moniker “colonials” is another example of the left’s push to cancel anything deemed offensive in its hyper-sensitive worldview, even if there’s nothing actually offensive about it. If the left remains unchecked, they will never stop trying to cancel anything they can.
In a statement made to Turning Point USA, De Urbina affirms the TPUSA chapter’s commitment to fighting cancel culture and upholding common sense on campus.
GW has given up on winning championships to compete in the woke Olympics. The Left is hell-bent on eroding our institutions— we’re sending a clear message that we won’t stay silent and allow our campus to become a barren wasteland of leftist groupthink. We will cancel back those who attack our culture and WIN. We’re taking back our country.
Danny De Urbina, TPUSA Chapter President at The George Washington University
The actions of these TPUSA student activists should be applauded. The best way to fight back against cancel culture is to point out its absurdity, and show—even with some well-positioned humor—how conservatives can win the American Culture War.
